Vol. 445 No. 6
297 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry his views on whether the fact that it has been deemed necessary to introduce a retention period during which animals cannot be sold for two months and one day in respect of applicants approved for headage payments will cause an over supply of cattle on the market in the autumn of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [237/94]
The retention periods of two months for cattle on which disadvantaged areas headage grants and EU special beef premium grants have been claimed have been set in accordance with EU regulations. Retention periods under the schemes expired in August and animals entered for the two schemes could have been sold after their retention periods ended. I do not accept therefore, that the retention periods are the cause of any over-supply of cattle on the market in the autumn.
